
ay/i^ . U^iA^c:£i 



UC-vx^ i>^ayi<^t 




Class Z 2%h 
Rnnk Olb 



M^ 



AN 

DELIVERED AT SALEM, *** 

ON MONDAY, JULY 5, 18», 

▲T THE SCaUBST OF THS 

ASSOCMTIOJV OF THE ESSEX READmO ROOMi 

r 

iff CBLJCBRATIOIf 09 



BY ANDREW DUNLAP, ESq. 



^artj spint is the madness of many, fbr the gain of a/eiv.'l^ 

Second Edition. 

PRINTED BY WARWICK PALFRAY, #vy. 
1819. 



• • 






I • Salbm, July 6, 1819. 

TO fejVDi?Err BV^hAV, ES^ 

SIR — The Committee of Arrangements in behalf of the Asso- 
ciation of the Essex Reading Room, return you thanks for your ex- 
cellent and appropriate ORATION, delivered in commemoration of 
American Independence, and respectfully request a copy of the same 
fer the press. 

Wo remain, Sir, yours, &c. 

JOHN W. OSGOOD, 

HENRY PRINCE, jr. 

JOHN WINN, jr. 

N. W. NEALL, {. Committee 

THOMAS COOPER, 

CHARLES TREADWELL, 

M. J. L. BESSELL, 



Salem, July 6, 1819. 
gEJTTLEMEJY, 

In acquiescence with your polite request, and in compliance 
with custom, I submit to your disposal the Oration, which I had the 
honour to deliver, with the single remark, that a hasty performance, 
prepared at a short notice, and under the influence of other engage- 
ments, has some claim upon public candour. 

With sentiments of friendship for yourselves, and the Association 
you represent, I am, very respectfully, 

Your humble servant, 

ANDREW DUNLAP. 

JOHN W. OSGOOD, 

HENRY PRINCE, jr. 

JOHN WINN, jr. 

N. W. NEALL, J- Committee, 

THOMAS COOPER, 

CHARLES TREADWELL, 

M. J, L. BESSELL, 



fir 



WHERE are the glories of the ancieut Republics ? They 
exist but iu the recoUectious of the lovers of freedom. They are to 
be found only in the records of genius and virtue. The land, once 
the birth-place of libeity, heroism, philosophy, poetry aud eloquence, 
is uow pressed by the foot-step of the slave or the tyrant. Ignorance 
has erected her altar ou the spot, where genius and learning once 
Ijad their seats, and the city, that gave laws to the world, has been 
the prey of savage conquests, and at length the fountaio of the mosl 
degrading superstitions. 

Is then liberty, so dear to the heart of man ; a sentiment to be cher- 
ished only in the breast of the sage, and to form the basis of Utopian 
systems of governraeat, suited solely to beings of purer elements and 
nobler mould ? Is the felicity past, as the glory of former times, nev- 
er to return ; or is it, like the hope of human perfection, always in 
prospect, but never to be realized ? If we look to the modern Re- 
publics of Italy, the seats of intrigue ; to the mountains of Helvetia, 
once happy and free ; to Poland, where the brave Kosciusko bled iu 
defence of expiring freedom ; to the cumbrous Confederacy of Ger- 
many ; to Holland, ruined by iis avarice, and jealousy of the great 
men, who would have wielded its destinies, and elevated its charac- 
ter ; to France, where taste, science nod chivalry were drowned 
i3 the blood of patriots; we are compelled to believe, that Liberty 
has quitted her ancient dominions, and sought, in this new world, a 
retreat from the political vices and persecutions of the old. Here 
are her only temples, and here her worshippers. Her last habita- 
tions, her chosen abode, her new regions, are more fertile and fixteo* 
sive than her former possessions, and while they reach from the St> 
Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, 
and embrace every variety of soil and climate, they are holdeu by a 
bold, intelligent and free people, who possess the same character, io' 
terests and feelings, and on this glorious day, in every part of tlip 



great American Republic, unite their hearts id the same joj and ex- 
ultation. 

America, now in the innocence of her youth, and disengaged from 
the polhition of European con ties ions, is the pride and the promise 
of the world. The ejes of all, attached to the cause of freedom, are 
turned upon this infant people, and anxiously anait the success of 
this last experiment, to learn whether man can be virtuous and hap 
py, while he is free. Nearly half a century has elapsed since «e 
became a nation, and for the success of the experiment, we may cite 
as proofs, the prospeiity which has attended our com.i}erce, the flou- 
rishing state of the arts, the a.^tonishing progress of our settlement^ 
the unexampled inciease of our population, the harmony of public 
sentiment, anfl the unbounded confidence of the people in the wis- 
dom and staliiliiy of our political institutions. 

In all ages, the attetnion of meti has been deeply interested in the 
political history, character, and establishments of their country. The 
mind of the historian, and the fancy of the poet, has been alike em- 
plo) td ou this subject. Tlie song of the shepherd has told of the 
simplicil} and innocence of the Patriarclial institutions, where age, 
experience and wisdom, alone gave pre-eminence ; and when, in the 
natural progress of eveuis. the increasing wants, intercourse and num- 
bers of society, dissolved the leagne of kindred, and formed associa- 
tions of dissimilar views and interests, the lyre of the Poet has re- 
sonnded the triumphs o\ conquest, or the sorrows of defeat. The 
Bard uf Greece has perpeli.al'^d in immortal song the glories of the 
Grecian name, and the desirnction of the splendid Capital of Asia. 
And the genius of the Poet of the Latins has raised fiom its ashes 
the Phoenix of the Western world. Even in the days of "modern de- 
generacy.' when the light o! literature was almost extinguished, the 
arts forgotten amidst the occupations of war, and poetry and eloquence, 
chilled in the damp of the cloister, or silenced in the tumult of feudal 
hostilities, the harp of the minstrel has immortalized the valour of 
the chieftain, and the fidelity of his clan. The great Republics of 
antiquity resorted to the superstitions of the times, to mark their in* 
fancy with incidents of admiration. In Athens, we find the Mg\s ol 
Wisdom guarding ilie hopes of science, and in Rome, the Chariot of 



9 

war Ifidiiig their legions to victory. And to this day, etery oatioa 
!n Europe has its tutelar Saint to watch over iis prosperity. 

But we build not our hopes ou idle superstitionti. Upon ihe rock 
of reason we I ave foundeii our governiiieol, and the basis ol our ex- 
peciatioiis of future greatness, is the strength ot the character ol our 
couDtr} Qiei). 

- The 01 igio of our nation was t oew era iu the hisiory of maH. 
He then, lor the first time since the days ol ancient virtue and liber- 
ty, knew his rights, and determined o assert iheni. And their de- 
fence haslcued a crisis, which arresied the atleution of the world, 
gave a new tone (o public sentiment, and finally reared the mighty 
Republic of the West. This is thf great event, which every citizen 
rejoices to celebrate. We are prauJ of our independence, the pre- 
cious gift of our fathers, and the best inheritance tor posterity. Nor 
■was it the operation of a few causes, which produced an effect so as- 
tonishing, 60 cheering in the annals of liberty. The stamp act, 
though founded upo'i the odious principle ot taxation without repre* 
sentaiion, couid not have kindled the flame, which emblazoned the 
Atlantic, had there not existed in the breasts of our fathers thespaik 
of heedom. This had lor generations created opposition to the inroads 
of oppression, and when oppression became systematic and uinversal, 
inspired the design of independence; for the Pilgrims brought 
^vith them to the aik o( their refuge, the best principles of liberty in- 
herent in the English Cousiituiiou, and left behind iheni the tyranny 
which the civil dissentioos, the pride, and the vices of men, had en- 
grafted on the native stock of British liberty. The severance of a 
mighty Empire, an event grand in its character aud consequences, 
could not have occasioned a general sorrow ; for our ancestors con- 
sidered themselves as exiles Irom their country, and martvrsto their 
devotion to civil and leligious liberty ; in infancy, the objects of con- 
tempi ; in youth, of oppression. Aversion therefore, on one side, aud 
a determined spirit of resisi aoce, on the other, long secretly opera- 
ting, at length burst forth into a war, and, ou the great day, we com- 
memorate, lost to Britain her colonies, aud made those colonies free, 
sovereigo, aud indtpendent Stales. 

Boldness and perseverance marked the character of the colonistj, 



and these qualities must convince us, that, even in the days of depen- 
dence, the power of a master would be acKuoAFledged with reluc- 
tance, and resolutions would suonbe fomied,thal ihe charter of their 
eivi! and religious liberties, elionld be founded, not on the license of 
Kings, but the rights of nmu ; for Auieiica, with her increasing resour- 
ces and population, her thousand might) rivers, and her vast extent 
of fertile territory, could not long have submitted to the dominion of a 
mete speck on the ocean. Happil} for the cause of freedom, happi- 
ly for the prosperity of the people, the folly of the British King, and 
the imprudence of his counsellors, disregarding the warning voice of 
the patriotic statesmen of the mother country, who knew the strength 
of the colonial character, and the value of their resources, and saw, 
that with America, "England was a match for the world,'' accelera- 
ted an event, which the operation of natural, moral and political 
catises, must in time have accomplished. And, while Providence, in 
whose hands the rash counsels of sovereigns are <he meane of bestow- 
ing happiness on man, filled the heart ot the monarch and bis minis- 
ters with false expectations, it favoured the resistance of a virtuous 
people to acts of tyranny, and smiled on their efiforts to become free, 

To recount the deeds of bravery, which distinguished the contest, 
fiom its heroic onset at Lexington and Bunker's Hill, where Ameri- 
cans, without allies or a system, led by their gr.ljant Pkeecoti-, ex- 
hibited their uative valour, to its close in the Chesapeake, w here the 
best blood of the country, and of a powerful ally, "flowed toj;etber in 
the same cause," is the duty of the historian ; and to give life to 
scenes of past glory, is the pencil's task. But, in New England, the 
tribute of recollection is due to the rocnoiy of our Warken, whose 
courage and virtues found an early grave, but whose memory will 
live forever in the hearts of his countrymen. The laurel, which 
sprung up at the tomb of our Putnam, has not yet withered. Our 
Stakk too, fast retreating from life, deserves remembrance ; while 
his last proud look is cast upon his country, let every eye, beaming 
wiiii gratitude, return the salutation, assure him that his services are 
not forgotten, and cheer the veteran cm his march to the soldier':* home. 

The war of the Revolution elicited the first talents of tlie country, 
and the public confidence has ever followed the disti'iguished men of 



ihat peviof*. Many have descended to the tomb. Others 9ur?ir«, 
aud, like the ancient Patriots, retire from the honors and the bustle 
of life, to the most noble occupation of the private citizen, and tlieir 
last laboins are iu the service of thrir countrymen. They are happy 
in the consciousness, that posterity will do justice to their characters, 
and, thai the best exposition of their motives, will be found in the his- 
tory of their lives. Some yet remain in the full enjoyment of the 
gratitude of their countrymen, and their sun sets iu a blaze of 
glory. The present illustrious Chief "Magistrate of the Nation pro- 
bably owes his elevation, to the devotion of his youth to the noble 
cause of liberty. And the honours, which have deservedly gathered 
around the head of the Patriot, who presides over the interests of our 
Commonwealth, and. with a Romau magnanimity, has consecrated 
his own life, and that of his sons, to the sacred cause of his countrj 
have been the reward of his eminent Revolutionary services. 

Of all the Statesmen, who, in the dark hour of the tempest, were 
found at the helm, and, of all the Heroes, who effected her indepen- 
dence America owes most to her Franklin and her Washington. 
The history of Franklin is the history of the improvements, and koow<^ 
ledge of the age. Sslf-taught, impelled by the heavenly inspirations 
of genius. Earth coidd not bound his discoveries, and the trorld is 
the measure of his fame. The native powers of his mind, enabled 
bim to maintain the dignity of his character and cause, against the 
influence and talents, of the British Cabinet and Parliament united j 
and the interesting spectacle was presented to the world, of a whole 
nation unsuccessfully arrayed against a single individual. In the 
diplomatic character of the representative of hi? nation, to the most 
august Court of Europe, his reputation obtained for his cause the 
most signal advantages, raised it to the highest point of greatness, and 
taught the Philosophers of Europe, that man had not degenerated the 
other side of the water. 

The fame of the American Sage, can be surpassed only by the glo» 
ly of the American Hero— for the splendour of military exploits, al- 
ways excels in the estimatiou of mankind, the reputation of the Phi* 
losopher and the Statesman. The renown even of conquerors, wh» 
have eosUved their native land, and deluged the wtcld iu bbsd, 



8 

will be imperishable, wbile an admiration of brilliaot aclioDS exists ia 
ibe human breast ; but the cnaiacter of our Wafhiugton rests, Dot 
only upoD his military exploits but his private virtues. Though he 
rose Id the highest commands, his ambition was, oot to rule, but to 
serve his country. Alexander conquered, but to gain glory for him- 
self. Coesar idded lustre to the Romau name ; but his greatest victo« 
ry was over Romau liberty. And Napoleon has been at once the 
pride and the scoiivge of his na'ion. Bui the s^vord of Washingtoa 
was never unsheathed, but in defence of the freedom of his country ; 
and the constant, the last wish of his heart, was for its happiness. 
What more interesting view can exist, than a citizen, c-uducliug his 
nation through the storms of a revolution, gaining a rank with the 
great eai heroes, securing peace and independence to his fellow-citi* 
zens. presiding over the formation of a free government, rising by 
the unanimous wish to the coutroul of the public concerns, directing 
tliem, in the most difHrult and delicate periods of our political history* 
with the greatest prudence and wisdom, aud, when "his caurse" of 
public services "was run," retiring to the condition whence he ema- 
nated, and d>ing "in pnace," amidsi t!»e blessings ol his countrymen. 
A nation''s tears have lamented his fall ; a nation's gratitude will era* 
balm bis memory. Our laud is the resting place of his bones ; but 
while his fame is the honor, his exa.nple is the property of mankind ; 
and, to the latest generations, he will be esteemed by Americans at 
the Father of his country, aud, by the world, as ihe brightest model 
of human perfectioa. 

Revolutionary story has been the theme of the Breside tale, has 
aoimaied the sinking spirit of age, and kindled, in the youthful mind, 
a love of country and a love of honour; but, more recent events 
have engaged attention, and u fear has been indulged, lest the mem. 
ory of former days should fade Irom familiar knowledge. Such ap- 
prehensions are visionary ; (or it is our pride, to dwell on the virtues 
and glories of our ancestors lo emulate them in eur actions, aud to 
transmit to posterity the accumnlaied and incorruptible iuhcritaoce 
of freedom As, m the Republic of Sparta, the old meu tell of the 
deeds of iheir day, the pride ol luauhood indulges the generous 
dbrnparisoQ of iho paut and ih« present age, and the hearts of the 



young, beat with the noble liope of excellii)g the greatness of all for- 
mer titnes. 

To reader the full tribute of praise to the events, the Patriots, and 
the character of the Revolution, is not within the limits of our plaQ 
or powers. Athens appointed her Pericles to pronounce the ora- 
tion on the character of her wars, and the glories of her heroes ; awd 
vhen, at some future period, a Pericles shall arise in our land, then, 
and not till then, will ample justice be done to the worthies who de- 
clared, and achieved, American Independence. 

Our civil history is no less honourable to our wisdom, than our 
militarT, to our valour. When the Sta>es of North America formed 
the present cotistitution, they created, what the world never before 
saw, the social compact. Whai for ages had engaged the contem- 
plation and wishfs of the sages of the ancient world, from the daya 
of Plato, to those of Harrington and Sidney, was attained v<^ithout a 
Struggle, by this iutant people in this newly discovered portion of the 
universe, a government founded on the people's will, and formed to 
secure their rights, and promote their happiness. On the basis of 
rational liberty, has been reared a structure, which surpasses by iis 
strength and solidity, the boasted wisdom of Greece, and by its res- 
ervations of power in the people, forbids that boundless ambition, 
which proved the downfall of the Roman greatness. A system, cal- 
culated to cheiish every spark of genius, by rendering the avenues 
to the highest ofTices. open to men of every condition ; and to secure 
the strict and faithful discharge of the public trust, by making all who 
possess authority, accountable to the people for its abuse. The strength 
of the whole may be employed in the advancement of the national pros- 
perity, and the talents of each individual, engaged in situations most 
favourable to their display ; for here the race of honor is open, and 
all, who choose it, enter. The supposed perfection of government, the 
long sought lor union of the energy of monarchical, the deliberative 
wisdom of aristocratic, and the patriotic virtue of Republican insti- 
tutions, is happily attained in our political constitution; and, while in 
the enjoyment of the blessi.)gs it secures, let us never cease to recol* 
JQTt with gratitude, the labors of the l»ng list of Patriots, who secured 



10 

iti adoption. Their oaraes will be immortalized in the civil history 
of their country, and ages yet to come, will reap the fruits of their 
frisdoin. 

The efficiency of a Republican Government to maintain its dignity 
amsng foreign nations, the glorious events of the late war sufficient* 
ly determine. Our Eagle soon took his flight on the ocean, and soot 
he returned with the laurel in liis mouth ; and a new power arose to 
the view of mankind, not to give, but to maintain the ocean's laws. 
Though the infancy of our country, and its limited resources, have 
cot yet furnished opportunities for the display of our naval talents, 
on the same grand scale, upon which the operations of Europe have 
been conducted ; though we have not the fleets of Holland. France 
or England, and cannot yet boast our Van Tromp, De Ruyter, 
Blake, Rodney, and Nelson ; yet, when the day shall arrive, when 
the resources of America shall be expanded, and great occasions oc- 
cur, the same boldness, enterprise and skill, which our brave seamen 
and their gallant commanders, from our Hull, to oar Perrv and 
M ACDONoc M have displayed, «& which have made the Lakes, the At- 
lantic, the Pacitic, and the Indian oceans, the scenes of our glor y 
will ensure to us victories, as brilliant as those of the greatest naval 
powers in the world. The early operations in the Mediterranean, 
under the auspices of the accornplished Pheble, had formed for 
us a character for gallantry ; and a jealousy of our rising im- 
portance had been felt, althoug'i not acknowledged, by the nation, 
which assumed the seas as her dominion, and claimed to be the mis- 
tress of the Ocean ; but the astonishing success of our little navy, 
from the fust battle of the Constitution, to the splendid engagements 
on the Lake?, while it humbled the pride of an enemy heretofore 
invincible, raised in the estimation of other nations the Ameri- 
can naval character, and infused into the people a darling attachment 
to the value of that cliaracter. If we are to have a commerce, the 
spring of national wealth ; we must have a Navy to protect it: if 
we are to have a national character; we must have a gallant nary to 
support iU 



il 

Qa the land, victoiy at length crowned our efforts, and, though de 
feat, at the commeucemcnt of the contest, seemed to be our fate ; yet 
from the experience of defects, the lessons of wisdom w«re drawo. 
Our arrangements were perfected, and an illustrious military char* 
acler was* finally obtained. The en^agcraeiits of Chippewa, Bridge* 
water and Erie, while they shed lustre upon our Miller, Scott, 
Ripley, and Brown, tauglit our enemies, that the "spirit of tht 
fathers had descended upon the sous,'' and that American courage had 
not sunk to the tombs of the heroes of the revolution. But it was for 
the battle of New Orleans to complete the circle of the glories of A- 
merica, and to fill the world with the splendors of her fame. On that 
field we find on one side, not regular troops inured to war ; but voN 
unteerF of the first respectability, led by the Hannibal of our age, on 
an expedition, almost equal to the famed voyage of the ancient con* 
(jueror down the Indus, and engaging in the defence of a city, which 
irill be rich as Alexandria, and of a territory, as fertile as Egypt. Oo 
the other side, are arrayed, the flower of the British plies, the vet- 
erans, who had been taught in the scliool of Wellington ; who 
triumphed in Spain, and came to gather laurels on the banks of tbt 
Mississippi. But there they found their grave; and the cjpreits 
now waves over the ruins of one of the bravest and best appointed ar- 
mies of Europe, which, in a single night, sunk before the valour of 
American militia. This victory, the most remarkable which histoiy 
can record, and which gave a glorious and lasting seal to the peace, 
which had been concluded, let it ever be remembered, was obtain* 
ed by the courage and patriotism of the Yeomanry of our country. 

From the late war, the truth of the maxim of Washington, contain- 
ing a sentiment of the greatest political wisdom, has been felt, that in 
peace we should prepare for war ; for, if we value our independence, 
we should never neglect the means of its defence. Let us, then, che* 
rish our martial spirit and character ; it will not corrupt our virtue, 
nor inspire unjust designs of foreign conquest. Our territory wilF, 
for ages, be sufficient for our wishes ; for, on the North and the South, 
we own all that we desire to possess, and ou the East and the Wesfv 
the oceao is our only boundary. 



IS 

By our local sitnation, we are able to avoid the intrigues, jealou- 
sies and embarrassments incident to European policy, the trial has 
been made, and the lesult has been successful. Since the formation 
©Four Constitution, greater civil commotions have taken place iothe 
ancient ef^v^rriments of Europe, than have ever before been present- 
ed, in the history of man. In England, their political establishments 
have been shaken from their foundations, by the force of popular 
sentiment. In France, where loyalty was a virtue and pride, the 
Mhirlwiiid of revolution has raged, till every thing worthy of admi- 
ration, science, humanity and liberty, has been prostrated by its fu- 
ry. An adventurer, whose fortune has been the most wonderful ; 
and whose cojirse, while it has been as brilliant, has been as rapid as 
that of a comet, seizes upon the throoe of the ancient Kings of France, 
and by a career of successes acquires t1je ad'Tiiration of the people, 
and opens to their view scenes of the greatest glory. Victory leads his 
armies, and conquest waits on his steps. Kingdoms alone are the ob- 
jects of his labouis aixl ambition. Princes are his captives. The 
monarch of Spain is his prisoner, and obeys his will. The heir of 
the house of.Braganza is compelled to flee his ancient dominions, 
and seek a retreat, in his possessions in the oeiv world. Sweden is 
a military trophy to his General. Italy is his nuptial gift. The 
House of Austria is forced to receive hjm as a son, and he becomes 
allied to the family of the King of the Romans. The capital of 
Russia surrenders to his arms, and the great barrier (o the domina- 
tioi. of France, seems about to be overleaped. But (he measure of 
success is full ; the tide of prosperity ebbs ; and the man, who me- 
naced the liberties of the world, becomes a fugitive, by the light of 
the fires of Moscow, from tlie country, he thought he had subdued, 
and his pvoud armies are left to perish in the desarts of Russia. New 
eflTorts are made, and a new army rises, like the Phcenix, more beauti- 
ful, from the ruins of the ancient legions. They ate destined to car- 
ry desolation into other countries, but find themselves unable to de- 
fend iheii oAvn confines, or to preserve the power of their leader, 
who resigns the proudest human hopes, and exiles himself to a hum- 
bio leiveat. Again the regime of France is restored, and the Bour- 



IS 

hotti are seated on the throne of tbeir ancestors. But another chans;t 
occurs. Napoleon bursls, like Sampson, from the vilhes that boun4 
bim, iovokcB the aid of his companions in arms, and, in the shod 
spaceof twenty days, the power of the Bourbons is annihilated, and the 
united wisdom of all £urope defeated, by »he overwiielming £;eniu8 
of a single individual. Short is his new care«r ; hia rapid and 
military preparations for the support of his power, are destroyed on 
th« field of Waterloo. The prowess of the combiaed armies is suc- 
cessful, and Wellington becomes the conqueror of the cocqueror of 
the world.* The Cossacks are in Puis; the French Generals are 
in exile ; and ihelr leader is, like an Eagle — chained to a rock. 

These are the great changes which have convnlsed Europe du- 
ring the short period of the existence of the American goverimient, 
'which, amidst them all, has escaped their influence, and preserved 
its independence. Other governments have fallen, but our's has 
stood firm,! for it was founded on the rock of liberty. Without an 
ally, we declared war ; and, though our enemy had overthrown the 
proudest monument of human strength, and engaged all tlie powers 
of the continent in her view?, we fought her undismayed, and boldly 
persevered to an honorable issue to the contest ; which, while it left 
us free from all degrading, and perplexing connections, and cemented 
b> the strongest ties, the friendly relations henceforth to exist be- 
tween England and the United States, founded, on an eternal basis, 
the repuiatinn of our nation for wisdom and gallantry. 

Of our Literary character, it may be said, though we cannot- like 
Germany, display our thousands of learned men ; though we cannot, 
like England and France, exhibit a regular order of men, devoted to 
the service of letters ; yet, the literary hopes of our country arecher 
ished with enthusiasm, by our citizens ; and it will become a ruling 
principle of action, with all honourable and independent men, to 
give power to no man, who is jealous of the influence and interests of 
literature. In Science, we have, within our view, our great men, 
■whose works the Philosophers of Europe have honored with their 
applause, and whose associatioa they are proud to court ; and in 
*"Le vainqueur du rainquer de la terre." 



• i4s 

the 9«ver&T Professions, the progress of knowledge has been aitonislu 
iug. The fame ol our Physicians has extended across the Atlantic. 
In the science of jurisprudence, we fear no comparison ^ the learning 
ivhich adorns our Benches ol Judges, and the eloquence of our Bar, 
has never ^eell surpassed in the Courts of Westminster. Our leara> 
ed Diviites. claiming no dominion from secular establie^bments, but 
deriving all ihe power they wish, from the love and confidence 
of the people, are excelled in the puriij of their lives, only b.v their 
ardent zeal to push the freedom of enquiry to the utmost limits of 
human knowledge They reap t!ie fmits of <heir labotira, iu that 
liberty of conscience, which is permiiled on no other spot on the 
globe, and can exist only under the auspices of a free constitution. 
The arts we have most snccessfully cultivated. Our Painters are 
the admiration of other countries. Our Alechanics rise every day 
in excellence, and are constantly rendering us rich and independent 
in the resources of our native genius and industry. These thingB 
prove, that moral energy is not wanting in our charsjcter, and that 
the seeds of greatness are sown in oui land ; aud they justify the be- 
lief, that as America has rivalled the political and military glory of 
the ancient Republics, she may one day excel them, in the splendor 
of her literary character. 

We have yet one more cause for exultation. We can look mlh 
pride upon our rulers, and justly challenge the ivorld to produce a 
parallel to the five American Presidents ; all great men, and each 
possessing more knowledge and talents, than all the preseut crowned 
heads of Europe, united ; and one of whom, while he waits for the 
chariot of heaven, to convey him to the regions where patriots are 
blessed, may indulge the proud reflection, that his mantle will des* 
cend upon a son, who emulates his father's virtues, and ivill deserve 
5iis father's honours. 

Americans have this day the greatest cause to unite their hearts 
in the sentiment of Patriotism. Their fathers have left th«m the 
richest inheritance, the best country and the best government, ou 
*artb. May they leave to their aspiring sons, these blessings n»' 



16 

impaired, aud to their fair daughters, the pride and the joy of Mii- 
Isiod, that proudest empire, ao empire over the hearts of freemeo. 

We have cau^e to rejoice. We live in the best days of America! 
history. We have overcome (he difficulties iu the ascent to thft 
Temple of Fame ; and. from the lofty eminence we possess, wt bc> 
)ield th« SuD of our Glory rising without a cloud — 
^* That Sun, wt pray maif nntr 9#t,*' 



